Ruben Amorim has been unable to turn Man United's fortunes around
Jamie Carragher believes the Portuguese boss is drowning at Old Trafford
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By SAM BROOKES
Published: 04:08 EST, 7 March 2025 | Updated: 04:08 EST, 7 March 2025
Jamie Carragher has claimed that Ruben Amorim is 'drowning' at Manchester United, and believes the players are already losing faith in the Portuguese head coach.
Amorim was brought in to replace Erik ten Hag in November and arrived with a reputation as one of Europe's best young managers after winning two league titles with Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.
But he has won just five of his first 16 league games and United were dumped out of the FA Cup by Fulham last weekend.
Amorim has insisted on sticking with his preferred 3-4-3 formation, but his stubbornness is yet to pay dividends, and Carragher has suggested the 40-year-old may already be on borrowed time just four months into his Old Trafford reign.
Writing in his weekly column for The Telegraph, Carragher said: 'This is the worst United team of my lifetime and the bare minimum that could have been expected after Amorim took charge, that the team would look like they are being coached better than they were under Ten Hag, has not materialised.
'United’s players have not responded well to his methods. Has a single player looked any better than they were under Ten Hag?
Jamie Carragher believes Ruben Amorim is 'drowning' at Manchester United
The Liverpool legend feels Amorim has not improved a single United player since arriving
Carragher has laid into United's players, claiming they are currently the worst squad he has ever seen at Old Trafford
'It is sink or swim at one of the biggest clubs in the world, and Amorim is currently drowning in the tidal waves of mediocrity.'
Carragher pointed out how several other top-flight managers have turned their team's fortunes around after joining in difficult circumstances in recent years.
The Liverpool legend highlighted the success that David Moyes, Oliver Glasner, Nuno Espirito Santo, Unai Emery and Eddie Howe have had at their respective clubs, while Amorim has failed to get a tune out of his players.
Carragher also praised the work done by Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, and admitted he expected Amorim to have a similar impact at United when he took over in late 2024.
United will host Arteta's Arsenal on Sunday, with time running out for them to rescue any positives from a dismal 2024-25 campaign.
Amorim appears to still have the backing of the United fans and board for now, but Carragher warned that this could soon change if results and performances don't start to improve.
'At the moment, United fans must feel like they are pinning their hopes on blind faith based on Amorim’s record at Sporting Lisbon,' Carragher added.
'It is the supporters and executives Amorim really needs to worry about. They will have a timeframe in mind for United getting back to the top. They may have calculated taking a step back before they can imagine leaping forward. What they would not have imagined is a side which is performing so consistently badly.
Carragher feels Amorim should be concerned about losing the backing of United's board
Carragher insists United's fans and board are entitled to have expected a lot more from Amorim
'This is not an endorsement of United immediately reviewing Amorim’s position before the start of next season. Far from it.
'But Ratcliffe and United’s fans are entitled to have expected so much more.'